Raiders Make Buchanon Their Top Pick
April 20, 2002
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) – Phillip Buchanon was picked by the one team he nevervisited, and that’s just fine with him.
The Oakland Raiders made two trades to move up in the NFL draft and selectedBuchanon, a junior cornerback from Miami, with the 17th pick in the first roundSaturday.
“The Raiders wanted me to come on a visit earlier but I didn’t have time,”Buchanon said. “I visited all the other teams.”
The Raiders picked Northwestern linebacker Napoleon Harris with their otherfirst-round selection at No. 23.
In the second round, the Raiders took California tackle Langston Walker andBrigham Young tight end Doug Jolley.
The Raiders began the day with the 21st pick, but packaged that and theirthird-round pick (No. 89 overall) to the Washington Redskins for the No. 18pick.
Minutes later, the Raiders moved up again by giving the Atlanta Falcons theNo. 18 pick and a fifth-round selection.
“We are pleased and excited about both of our selections,” Raiders coachBill Callahan said. “Both are outstanding players at their position and bothhave qualities we want on our defense.”
Buchanon, who also returns punts, earned second-team All-American honors asa junior last season after recording 23 tackles and five interceptions.
“We felt we attained a corner who has excellent coverage skills,” Callahansaid. “He’s an outstanding punt returner as well and we addressed a needthere. This is the guy we coveted and we traded up to make sure we got him.”
Buchanon (5-foot-10, 186 pounds) is considered a superb coverage cornerbackand was rated just behind Texas’ Quentin Jammer, the consensus choice as thetop defensive back in the draft. Jammer went to the San Diego Chargers with thefifth pick overall.
“By no means are we anointing him a starter,” Callahan said. “He doesgive us more options, and with a cover corner like that, you can’t pass itup.”
Buchanon is the third defensive back the Raiders have chosen in the firstround in the last five years, joining All-Pro cornerback Charles Woodson (1998)and safety Derrick Gibson (2001).
“I watched (Woodson) in college and he did a real good job,” Buchanonsaid. “I really admired him. And he’s doing a good job in the pros. I am goingto go there and learn from him.”
Harris (6-2, 253) is another versatile athlete. He played both outsidelinebacker and defensive end in college.
“He has athletic skills, size and speed,” Callahan said. “He has theability to play up or down and can rush the passer. We always considered him afirst-round selection.”
Harris made 78 tackles, including 45 solos, as a defensive end for theWildcats last year. He also had three sacks, nine tackles for a loss and 19quarterback pressures.
He’s the first linebacker the Raiders have picked in the first round sinceRob Fredrickson in 1994, and just the second ever.
“I was relaxed,” Harris said. “A lot of people couldn’t believe the calm.I was just relaxed and just seeing what’s going to happen. I didn’t go into thedraft with any select pick, like, I should go here or I should go there. I wasjust looking forward to being a part of making someone’s team and taking itfrom there.”
Walker (6-8, 344) allowed only two sacks as a senior for the Bears. He was aleft tackle in college.
Jolley (6-4, 251) is also a long snapper. He went to BYU as a quarterback,but was switched to tight end as a redshirt freshman. He had 52 catches for 768yards and 11 touchdowns in his career.
